Coleus plant named ‘Kakegawa CE2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Coleus  plant named ‘Kakegawa CE2’, characterized by its low and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching and vigorous growth habit; strong lateral branches; and green and dark purple bi-colored leaves with dark purple-colored venation and green-colored petioles.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Coleus×hybridus cultivar Kakegawa CE2.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant, botanically known as Coleus×hybridus, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name Kakegawa CE2.

The new cultivar is the product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Cartago, Costa Rica. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Coleus cultivars with a low spreading plant habit. The new Coleus was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single seedling resulting from a self-pollination of a proprietary selection of Coleus×hybridus identified as code number 9CL-1, not patented. The new Coleus was discovered and selected from within the seedling progeny from the stated self-pollination in a controlled environment in Cartago, Costa Rica in 2000. This seedling was selected on the basis of its low and outwardly spreading plant habit and unique leaf coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in Salinas, Calif. since 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Coleus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Kakegawa CE2 have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kakegawa CE2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kakegawa CE2’ as a new and distinct Coleus cultivar:

1. Low and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.

3. Strong lateral branches.

4. Green and dark purple bi-colored leaves with dark purple-colored venation and green-colored petioles.

Plants of the new Coleus are most similar to plants of the parent selection. Plants of the new Coleus differ primarily from plants of the parent selection in foliage coloration.

Plants of the new Coleus can be compared to plants of the Coleus cultivar Salamander, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Cartago, Costa Rica, plants of the new Coleus differed from plants of the cultivar Salamander in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Coleus are more compact than plants of the cultivar Salamander.

2. Plants of the new Coleus are more freely branching than plants of the cultivar Salamander.

3. Plants of the new Coleus are more outwardly spreading in plant habit than plants of the cultivar Salamander.

Plants of the new Coleus can also be compared to plants of the Coleus cultivars Kakegawa CE1, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/753,810; Kakegawa CE3, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/753,808; Kakegawa CE5, disclosed in a U.S. Plant patent application filed concurrently; and Kakegawa CE8, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/753,806. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted in Salinas, Calif., plants of the new Coleus differed primarily from plants of the cultivars Kakegawa CE1 and Kakegawa CE8 in plant and leaf size and from plants of the cultivars Kakegawa CE3 and Kakegawa CE5 primarily in foliage coloration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Coleus.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical plant of ‘Kakegawa CE2’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical leaves of ‘Kakegawa CE2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Kakegawa CE2 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter and spring in Salinas, Calif., in a glass-covered greenhouse and under conditions which approximate commercial production cultural and environmental conditions. Plants were about ten weeks from rooted cuttings and were grown in 10-cm containers. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 24° C., night temperatures were about 16° C. and light levels ranged from 4,000 to 6,000 footcandles.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Coleus×hybridus cultivar Kakegawa CE2.

Parentage: Seedling from a self-pollination of a proprietary selection of Coleus×hybridus identified as code number 9CL-1, not patented.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—About four days at 24° C.

Time to develop roots.—About ten days at 24° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Form.—Annual potted or garden plant; low and outwardly spreading plant habit. Rapid growth rate; vigorous.

Plant height.—About 16 cm.

Plant diameter.—About 41 cm.

Branching habit.—Freely branching with about seven lateral branches per plant.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 24 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Internode length: About 5.5 to 6 cm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Initially upright then outwardly spreading. Shape, in cross-section: Squarish. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Opposite; simple. Length: About 4 cm. Width: About 4.7 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate to deltoid. Apex: Broadly acute to rounded. Base: Truncate. Margin: Crenate to lobed. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate; netted. Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Towards the margins and base, 146A; center and venation, 187A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 147B; venation, 147C. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Towards the margins and base, 146A; center and venation, 187A. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 148B; random speckles, 187B; venation, 147C. Petiole length: About 3.2 cm. Petiole diameter: About 2.5 mm. Petiole color: 146A to 146B.

Flower description: Flower development has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Coleus have not been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Coleus.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Coleus have been observed to tolerate temperatures from 2 to 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Coleus plant named ‘Kakegawa CE2’, as illustrated and described. 